When average Americans go to the movie theater, whether it’s a midnight premiere or a two-week old film, they expect to be entertained. Some like a good comedy that makes them bust a gut, while others want to sob like a baby. Movies can completely change your mood, opinion and belief so much that you will walk out of the theater feeling like a whole new person.
Biola’s very own cinema and media arts program strives to teach its film students to do just this by offering them hands-on experience as early as their freshman year, which many other universities do not allow.
As a growing, serious and competitive film school, the CMA department conducts a film festival and award ceremony as an annual event. It is a chance for all students who have made a film this year, or multiple films, to showcase their films.
Kean Salzer, head of special projects for cinema and media arts, said that at most Christian film schools students learn how to make films for Christians, but at Biola’s film school, students learn how to make films for worldwide audiences.
“Biola’s at the forefront of teaching artists how to weave their worldview into their stories without utilizing propaganda. Primarily there is an inherent prejudice against Christians in Hollywood because we live in age of tolerance and we’re seen as the intolerant group. The church also continues to labor thinking that film exists as another means of propaganda,” Salzer said.
Film festival showcases talent
The film school helps students produce multiple films a year and prepares them for the film industry. This includes screenwriting, production, media management and off-Hollywood emphases. A lot of the films submitted to the festival took a semester to film or are in production for longer than that and give the film students an opportunity to have a regulated formal setting. Students are encouraged by their professors to be as authentic and gritty as necessary.
“Most of the films are investigating sex slavery or broken families, some comedy, but most are just trying to tell dramatic stories,” Salzer said.
Peers, family, professors and professionals in the industry view the student work in the afternoon during the festival. After being reviewed by a panel of professors, the best films are nominated and then move on to the final stage: the winners. There are 16 categories, which is an industry standard, featuring categories from best director to best hair and makeup.
Following the festival, there is a ceremony in the evening to announce the winners of each category in a black tie, formal environment. This then gives the students a chance to dress up and be introduced to their future.
What to expect this year
This year there are 43 submissions that will be under review by the panel of judges. Olivia Hernandez is the director and coordinator for the CMA festival and awards. She expressed that there is a wide variety in the different films submitted this year. Seniors to freshmen entered in the submission pool for the festival.
“Everyone is in the festival; if you have the motivation and the skill, we welcome all storytellers,” Hernandez said.
The day festival takes place in the production center of the CMA department at one in the afternoon on May 11 and will showcase all the submissions. It provides a chance for those who have not yet seen the films to watch them.
After, there will be a break for everyone to get ready for the ceremony that will take place at the Talbot East Banquet room at seven in the evening. This year’s awards ceremony will channel classic Hollywood in both attire and decor, Hernandez said.
